12th January 2012 : Marking the start of the International Year of Co-operatives

Now that the United Nations has launched the International Year of Co-operatives, how can co-operatives and co-operative organisations at various levels launch their own plans? On 12th January co-operatives...

Co-operative enterprises are businesses done by their members, for their members and to their members. Simply put, co-operative enterprises are good for everyone.

Yet, in spite of the current global social and economical challenges, the role of co-operatives has been overlooked. In response to this, co-operatives set out to give a wake-up call once with the start of the new year.

On the 12th of January 2012 co-operatives want to unite their voices and mark the start of the International Year of Cooperatives.  Only by co-operating we can be more powerful and achieve our goals. Only by being together we can change the future. So join us on 12th January and let everyone know that the International Year of Cooperatives has started.

There are plenty of simple ways to celebrate the start of the Year. It can be putting up an International Year poster, handing out stickers to your customers, sending a press release to your local media, writing a blog, making a tweet or having a co-operative lunch with your colleagues, friends and family. Sharing the news with everybody is essential!

Co-operatives all over Europe and across the world will be marking the start of the Year in their own ways for 12 January.  Cooperatives Europe, the ICA and many other co-operative organisations across Europe and the world are encouraging all members to join in celebrating the co-operative movement and mark the start of the Year on 12 January. If you are interested contact us:  several of the countries and national committees involved are offering to share resources, for example, sample press releases.

So why not join with the global movement on 12 January and celebrate the start of 2012?

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